COVID CASES JUMP DUE TO WANING IMMUNITY AND NEW VARIANTS

For many, the pandemic might feel like a distant bad dream, but Covid hasn't vanished into thin air as cases have surged since January this year, with new data revealing a significant increase. The waning immunity from vaccines and the emergence of new variants have led to a gradual but steady climb in Covid cases since the start of the year.

In England, the number of hospital patients testing positive for Covid rose by 7% in the week leading up to Sunday, April 6, with the 'positivity rate' increasing from 4.2% to 4.5%, according to the latest stats from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

This is a stark contrast to the mere 2.2% positivity rate seen in early January, which marked the lowest level of infection in at least two years, with around 1 in every 330 people being infected.

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Despite the current figures being just a fraction of those seen at the peak of last summer, the British public is being cautioned against complacency.

Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, suggests that while another "pandemic-level crisis like in 2020" seems unlikely, those most at risk of contracting new variants are individuals who haven't had a recent booster or infection.

The UK Health Security Agency's data, stemming from the spring vaccination programme of 2024, indicates that those vaccinated were over 40% less likely to end up in hospital with Covid for up to two months post-vaccination, compared to the unvaccinated, reports the Express.

Dr Wylie says: "Seasonal changes and increased indoor social mixing can contribute to the spread, much like we see with other respiratory viruses.

"Common symptoms include a sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, and sometimes a fever or loss of taste or smell, though the latter is less frequent now."

Around 7.5 million people in England are eligible for the NHS spring booster top-up vaccination. The booster is available between April 1 to June 17.

Vaccinations are being offered to:

• adults aged 75 years and over.
• residents in a care home for older adults.
• people aged between six months and 74 years who have a weakened immune system, external and are at a greater risk from severe illness.

If you are 74 but turn 75 years old by June 17, 2025, you don't have to wait for your birthday to come forward.

2025-04-19T13:39:38Z